NFL Atlanta Falcons

2015 NFL Draft: Atlanta Falcons’ Top 5 Needs

2015 NFL Draft: Atlanta Falcons' Top 5 Needs

Falcons Draft Needs
Derick E. Hingle - USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Falcons are on the verge of making the playoffs with a losing record. Check out these five positions the Falcons must upgrade to have a better 2015 season.

5. Wide Receiver

Julio Jones Falcons
Derick E. Hingle - USA TODAY Sports

5. Wide Receiver

Julio Jones Falcons
Derick E. Hingle - USA TODAY Sports

Julio Jones is a beast, that’s easy to see, and Roddy White is still capable of catching crucial passes in games. The one thing that is worrying is that both the Falcons’ star receivers have been injured recently, so the team needs another young, talented receiver to give them better depth, particularly through a playoff run. Yes, they have Devin Hester and Harry Douglas, but they could still do with another elite receiving talent going forward.

4. Running Back

Steven Jackson Falcons
Jason Getz - USA TODAY Sports

4. Running Back

Steven Jackson Falcons
Jason Getz - USA TODAY Sports

Steven Jackson has shown plenty of times this season that he can push through gaps and claim crucial extra yardage on the ground, but he is not getting any younger. Next season will see at least two top talents at running back, Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin) and Todd Gurley (Georgia), whom would be ideal replacements once Jackson decides to hang up his cleats.

3. Linebacker

Paul Worrilow Falcons
Derick E. Hingle - USA TODAY Sports

3. Linebacker

Paul Worrilow Falcons
Derick E. Hingle - USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons’ defense has been poor for most of the season. Their top tackler is inside linebacker Paul Worrilow, but then the next top tacklers are the team’s safeties, Kemal Ishmael and Dwight Lowery. This shows that their linebackers need to be more aggressive, and an athletic outside linebacker could help the team put up more tackles throughout the season.

2. Defensive End

Jonathan Babineaux Falcons
Jason Getz - USA TODAY Sports

2. Defensive End

Jonathan Babineaux Falcons
Jason Getz - USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons’ defense has struggled to hit the quarterback all season. Their defensive line has combined for just five sacks all season -- an awful statistic. The Falcons should look to draft a premier edge rusher to help the team attack the quarterback, with Jonathan Babineaux still around to provide some veteran guidance before his age catches up to him in the next year or two.

1. Offensive Tackle

Jake Matthews Falcons
Jason Getz - USA TODAY Sports

1. Offensive Tackle

Jake Matthews Falcons
Jason Getz - USA TODAY Sports

Hit by injuries, the Falcons lost five players along their offensive line to injury this season; that list was headed by Tackle Sam Baker. The Falcons drafted the highly-talented Jake Matthews last season, and should look to add another talented tackle to play opposite him, giving quarterback Matt Ryan more time to make decisions within the pocket.

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